1. Anatomy of the Urinary System
Notes

2. Kidneys: Function Keep body free of impurities
Maintain water & chemical balance
Oversees composition of electrolytes
Regulate blood pressure
Secretes hormones

3. Kidneys Located in posterior abdomen Suspended by connective tissue
Functional Unit:
Nephron
System of tubes and filters

4. The Nephron

5. Urine Formation Filtration – blood from renal arteries enters nephron
Small molecules pass through filter (water, glucose, aa, urea)
Large molecules do not pass (blood cells, proteins)
Reabsorption – water and nutrients are reabsorbed back into blood stream
Secretion – drugs and other wastes are secreted into tubes
Urine funneled into ureters

6. Urine Urochrome – pigment produced from breakdown of bile
Hydration
Hematuria – blood in urine
pH of 6 (affected by disease and diet)

7. Ureters
Tubes that transport urine from kidneys to bladder

8. Bladder Stores urine until it is eliminated Smooth muscle
Stretches like a balloon (hold up to 600 ml of urine)
Muscles relax when bladder is filling / contract during urination

9. Urethra Muscular tube connecting bladder to exterior Male – 8 inches
Female – 1.5 inches
More susceptible to infection